SPOTLIGHT ON... Lee Waddingham

We've got a brilliant creative artist to spark our 'Spotlight On...' 2026 series....

Q. Where in Lincolnshire are you based, and what was your first ever live performance that you participated in?

"I’m based in North East Lincolnshire and my first memory of participating in a show is as an audience member.  It was Summer Season at Cleethorpes Pier in 1979, I was 4 years old.  The show was headlined by The Nolan Sisters, I was mesmerised and became a big fan of their’s. We had their tape in dad’s car and we played it over and over again. Many years later I got to work with Denise Nolan, I have never been so star struck and I’ve worked with some very famous people but meeting a Nolan blew my mind. I've subsequently worked on over ten shows with, Denise, Maureen and Linda and they have become close friends.  I jokingly blame them that it’s their fault I work in theatre because if I hadn’t of seen that Summer Show as a 4 year old boy things could have turned out differently.

As for first performance I was “in", I definitely remember doing 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamboat' at Primary School.  I was gutted when I didn't get cast as Joseph but got cast as The Pharaoh.  It didn’t stop me loving the show and things came full circle when I made my professional debut in 'Joseph'.  I didn't get cast as Joseph or the Pharaoh this time but as Dan one of the brothers and I loved every second. 

Q. What was it that first drew you to the local theatre/arts scene? Has it been a constant in your life, or was there a hiatus due to work/life commitments? What sparked or, indeed, relighted your interest? 

"I was born in Cleethorpes and immersed my self in the local amateur scene whilst growing up. I left at 18 to do my full time training at The University Of Hertfordshire. When I first started my training, I came home to Grimsby every weekend as I had been cast as Billy Lawlor in '42nd Street' with Grimsby and Cleethorpes Amateur Operatic Society; it was one of the first amateur versions of the show in the UK  so I was desperate to play the role.  I’ll be honest I was so under-rehearsed it still gives me anxiety. 

Growing up in Grimsby there was no professional theatre. The Pier, where I first saw live theatre was turned into a night club and the Grimsby Auditorium did not exist back then. So the area was pretty barren. I was very lucky that I had parents who also loved theatre and we regularly went to see stuff in Hull as a family.  However when I started my drama degree it soon became apparent that my class mates, who came from all over the UK were so much more culturally aware than I was. I was definitely playing catch up.  Going into the West End just blew my mind. Reflecting on this,  that lack of opportunity here in Grimsby as an 18 year old boy, really stuck with me and definitely fuels the work I am doing now with Acting Lincs."

Q. Quite simply, give me three words that describe what theatre means to you. 

"Hard work! Life!"

Q. You've worked across stage, TV and film... What particular stand-out projects and productions can you share with us? 

"Performing wise I guess I have to list joining the cast of 'Joseph', which was my first professional job straight out of drama school and getting my equity card whilst on that show. Going to India to shoot a major Bollywood movie was quite exciting and when I tell people who watch Bollywood movies that Im in this particular film it still gets a great reaction because it was such a massive hit. 

Producing wise, blimey where do I begin?  I have produced over 200 professional productions and I have been very lucky to have ticked many of my career goals.  It was whilst doing my drama degree that I actually decided I wanted to be a producer and performing was just a way to facilitate becoming that role. In particular I wanted to be a pantomime producer because I fell in love with the genre when I saw my first professional pantomime when I was 19. I made the jump from performing to behind the scenes when I was 27 and started working full time at Mountview which I loved, I then left there to join the BBC but didn’t enjoy the TV vibe, I’m too much of a "luvvie".

It was whilst at the Beeb I interviewed for a job with a panto production company and was successful and I worked my way up from the bottom and ended up as a partner in the business and as Artistic Director.  Ive also worked for several other major pantomime production companies. Stand out shows include 'Cinderella' at Liverpool Empire starring Cilla Black, I could dine out on that show for the rest of my life.  'Cinderella' with Mickey Rooney, Bobby Davro and Michelle Collins at the Bristol Hippodrome I am particularly proud of. At press night the show got three separate standing ovations, and I don't mean the kind where the cast say come on everyone get on your feet and lets party, they were genuine organic standing ovations and I will never forget it - if only I could achieve that with every show LOL!

I was very proud of my 'Peter Pan' at the Derby Assembly Rooms starring Larry Lamb as Hook and BGT winner George Sampson as Pan.  It was the first time a BGT winner had done panto so that was quite a coup.  Peter Pan is hard to get right as a panto because some audience members are expecting the musical version and dont think it should have a dame etc, it’s quite a divisive title.  Well I was fed up with all the negativity around the title and set myself the task to remedy the flaws and write a show that left the audience with no doubt that it was a pantomime. The show was extremely well received and played to 40,000 people. Larry Lamb is an absolute legend, one of the nicest guys i've ever worked with. 

I also wrote, produced and directed three Christmas productions at The Queen's Theatre Barnstaple.  I have very fond memories of those shows, even the one with Gareth Gates that we managed to stage during Covid.  The hoops we jumped through to create theatre! 

Away from panto I'm proud of things like 'Soul Sisters' which starred Amelle from the SugarBabes.  The world premier of political thriller 'Dead Lies' by Hillary Bonner and the super-camp 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'."

Q. Can you share with us your fondest, or a particularly strong, on-stage/backstage memory?

"I have actually started creating my own one man show about my career called - 'Oh No He Didn’t, Oh Yes He Did!'  There really are so many stories from my career, when I think back it makes me feel old.   Working with Mickey Rooney was pretty epic.  First day of rehearsal he was having issues with his new false teeth, I will just leave that there.  You will have to come see my show to find out how that ended.  I was in his dressing room once and I said Mickey, "Tell me about Judy Garland." He replied, "I don't want to talk about the past, I want to talk about the future….."  

I thought that was quite optimistic seen as he was 92."

Q. Acting Lincs... it's really grown! And right across the county! What makes it so unique and why is there such an appetite for it? 

"Yes the growth has been quite astonishing.  When I came back home I was fortunate enough to take some time out and connect with local professionals. The pro's that were able to were travelling outside of the county to do class and those that couldn’t had no space or provision to train and stay on top of their craft.  Actors are no different to singers, dancers or musicians and need to keep their skills tuned and in check so I wanted to create that space for them here in Lincolnshire. I also wanted to create a support network so that they always had colleagues they could call upon to read for self tapes, industry advice etc. It proved popular and we attracted pro’s from across the county.  I then realised that there was no provision at all in the whole of Lincolnshire for adult hobbyist level actors to train and attend acting technique classes. Ive had some criticism over my use of the word hobbyist but I hate the word amateur with a passion. It has such negative connotation.  If something is a bit naff it’s usually labelled amateur and I don’t want that connotation attached to Acting Lincs CIC.  I work with some hugely talented non-pro actors, they just choose to make their living from a different profession so I don't believe their talent should be labelled with something negative. 

Our hobbyist groups provide a space for those that enjoy working with local drama groups but never really had any formal drama training and also for absolute beginners.  We offer a drama school style setting so they can learn how to approach building a character, work on voice and breathing technique, encourage strong and bold creative choices in the safety of a class, and expose the actor to different styles and genres through scene work.  Our aim is to build the actors confidence, skill set and ability so they can then apply what they have learnt in the productions that are produced by the amazing societies we have here in Lincolnshire.  It was always our aim to work alongside those societies and not in competition with. Our USP is a strong focus on training. Having said that we do produce one theatrical showcase a year and each group gets to apply the skills they learn in our acting for screen classes by shooting a short film on location. 

So from starting with one group we now are active in Lincoln, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. I was finally persuaded to launch Acting Lincs Youth, something I was reluctant to do as there was already plenty of opportunity for young actors but when I realised that provision was mainly focused on musical theatre and I saw that we could offer a space for those that did not want to sing and dance and focus on the discipline of acting has proved hugely popular particularly as it has a heavy focus on acting for screen.  In 2025 we delivered over 100 classes and we are now engaging with over 100 actors a week including some from outside of Lincolnshire because nothing like what we do exists in their area."

Q. Being from Lincolnshire (and coming back to Lincolnshire), has anything changed, for the better or the worse? 

"Thats a really tough question to answer - Yes and No! I think the fact that Acting Lincs CIC has grown so quickly proves people wanted something new. I identified a lack of provision, provided it and it’s taken off.  I still find it hard to believe that the UK's second largest county doesn’t have a Number 1 touring theatre and we have to travel to see major shows. North East Lincs doesn't even have a small to mid scale theatre where we can show our work. Acting Lincs CIC is a fully inclusive organisation and I’m proud we partner with actors with varying accessibility needs and at the moment there isn’t a stage we can perform on in NE Lincs, well there is but red tape is currently preventing it from happening. Things like that add another dimension to my work with Acting Lincs and I’m trying to use my knowledge and experience to improve things like that."

Q. You're already doing a fantastic job with 'Acting Lincs'. Can I ask what the overall ambition is for the project?

"Thank you. At the end of 2025 we became a Community Interest Company so that we can access funding that will ensure our sustainability so that Acting Lincs CIC is around for many years to come. I am passionate about keeping our classes accessible to all, and so we don't rely on increasing prices, funding is going to be crucial.  Our first Arts Council England bid is in the process of being written. Those of you who have experience in that process know just what a mammoth task it is. 

Over the last 12 months I have had to invest most of my time focusing on the hobbyist groups and ensuring they are established. 2026 will see me move away from the hobbyist groups and turn my focus back to the Pro Group and seeing how we can continue to add value to their careers. A major ambition is to create more opportunity of paid work for our professional actors. This will come from outside organisations as well as our own produced work.  Budgets have been drawn up so watch this space for an exciting announcement. 

Launching Acting Lincs Youth in other territories is on the agenda as it’s important to me that we create a space for those creative minds that want to act and not have to sing and dance.  We are also in the early stages of securing our own building so that we can further develop and expand our programme."

Q. What other creative work is on the horizon for you?

"Acting Lincs CIC is keeping me very busy at the moment.  I did put my money where my mouth is and stepped back in front of the camera last year and filmed a couple of short films. I loved it and if other opportunities like that come along then I would jump onboard but only if the role cant be played by one of the actors we partner with. 

I’ve been asked to direct a new musical for Edinburgh Festival this year but I’m struggling to make it work time wise as we have some exciting plans for this summer.  We will be launching our Acting Lincs Youth Summer project which will see our young actors shoot their own short film. I’ve also been approached to direct a panto in 2026.

I know I have to keep myself out there in the industry as it’ important I keep in check and remain relevant.   However I'm so focussed on what I’m doing with Acting Lincs CIC and I’m finding it some of the most rewarding work of my career that fitting other projects in isn’t easy."

Q. Back to 'Acting Lincs', could you give me one popular song title that describes the 'Acting Lincs' experience and journey thus far?

"Sure - 'You Will Be Found' from \Dear Evan Hanson'.  I think until Acting Lincs CiC came along there were a lot of lost creative minds out there in Lincolnshire.  We came along, created a space, people found their tribe and now we have an incredible Acting Lincs family that just keeps on growing." 

For more information about Acting Lincs, please check out www.actinglincs.com or for further details email - info@actinglincs.co.uk 

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